Melrose creates group to revisit city’s liquor laws

Melrose may be changing its liquor laws, with the goal of better accommodating businesses in the city and doing away with old regulations.

Mayor Rob Dolan announced the formation of a liquor advisory group, during a press conference last month, which will examine all aspects of the city’s liquor licensing regulations.

The rules were redone in 2009 in regards to alcohol consumption on site (at restaurants with table seating) and off site (sold in businesses), but officials are now considering additional changes.

"We’re going to look at what the city enacted, and what the city has used over the last five years, and try and determine if they can be more businesses friendly," said David Lucas, Melrose’s assistant city solicitor and chairman of the committee.

This could potentially mean decreasing the amount of seats a restaurant needs to have in order to serve liquor and eliminating the law that requires customers to order food at restaurants if they want to drink alcohol.

Dolan stressed the committee will not consider extending licenses for additional beer and wine stores — as the community is satisfied with the three already in operation — or focus on the possibility of a bar or tavern opening in Melrose.

After looking at the city’s current laws, members will make recommendations to Dolan as to what regulations, if any, should be altered. Lucas said he hopes to complete this process by the end of the summer.

Depending on the group’s suggestions, the mayor may need to approach the liquor license commission or the Board of Alderman (BOA) for an ordinance change.

Other proposals could require a ballot vote, which would need to be recommended by the BOA and then approved by the Legislature.

City Solicitor Rob Van Campen pointed out this liquor committee was strictly set up to counsel Dolan, and is therefore not subject to the Open Meeting Law.

"They’re an advisory group to the mayor, who will then make recommendations to the Board of Aldermen if we go the route of a Home Rule Petition to amend the thresholds for our liquor licenses," he said.

LIQUOR IN RESTAURANTS

One priority of the group is to determine if there’s a desire to modify the seating requirements in restaurants that want to serve alcohol.

"What I’m looking to do is to use liquor licenses in restaurants as an economic development tool to stimulate growth in our smaller business districts: Wyoming Avenue, Cedar Park, upper Main Street and the new Highlands that we’re building," Dolan said. "The days of big Hilltop, 100-plus seat restaurants are over in the suburbs."

Currently, restaurants in Melrose must have 50 seats to serve beer and wine and 100 seats for a full liquor menu.

Page 2 of 2 - However, new eateries in the suburbs, Dolan continued, typically have between 25 and 50 seats. To give business owners looking to come to Melrose more options, Dolan asked the liquor committee to determine if there’s a benefit in lowering the seating regulations.

Members of the group will study a variety of different options — including decreasing the requirement for beer and wine licenses from 50 to 25 seats and full liquor from 100 to 50 seats.

"I’d like to see [restaurants] go to 25 seats for beer and wine," Dolan said. "Because I think the Highlands and these small districts can fit 25-seat restaurants. We have had inquiries in Wyoming, we’ve had inquiries in the Highlands, about small restaurants moving in."

Lucas added that many of these interested business owners are apprehensive to open restaurants in the city because of the strict liquor laws.

"We’ve heard from various members of the Melrose community and outside the Melrose community that they would like to open a restaurant, but the regulations are just too stringent," he said.

DRINKING LAWS

The liquor advisory group will also look at the city’s drinking laws, which require patrons to order food if they’re consuming alcohol.

"No one really knows what that law is, "Dolan said. "And there’s a thousand different variations of it on the street."

Over the past five years, the mayor added, the city has grown to have entertainment at night and sometimes hour-long waits at restaurants.

"What do I hear people say they don’t want? They don’t want bar rooms," Dolan said. "Well, that’s a discussion, but I think what we do want [is for] people to be able to go downtown and have dinner. Wait. Meet friends. Maybe have a drink. Watch entertainment and spend an evening in our downtown or in our business districts throughout the city."

Members of the liquor committee will meet with restaurant owners and other members of the community — like the police chief and the Melrose Clergy Association — to get their experiences and perspectives on the rule.

"In a candid and confidential setting, so they feel free to let us know the fairness of the rules and regulations [and] so they have no fear of any negative action by city officials when they go to renew their liquor license at the end of the year," Lucas said.

The committee is in the process of inviting members of the public and business owners to a discussion on the issue. Lucas said the meetings will likely occur over the next two to three weeks.